PWA Pozo Gran Canaria World Cup 2011 day 3 - The women shine

PWA Pozo Gran Canaria World Cup 2011 day 3. The women’s fleet was un-leashed onto Pozo's rough waters to fight through the first three heats of the single elimination.

The judges opted for a late start for the third day of competition, in the hope that the turning off the tide would bring with it larger waves. Pozo didn’t disappoint, a few hours after low tide, the wind was blowing twenty knots and the waves were rolling in between waist and shoulder height.

Having not yet had the opportunity to compete, the judges’ let the ladies loose onto the competition area, allowing the first few heats of the single elimination to be completed.

First up was multi-talented Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North) verses new girl to the tour Sarah Bibby (Simmer) and on the other side of the heat Silvia Alba Orozco verses Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne). Treboux made the best out of the tough conditions and quickly collected her wave scores, whilst Bibby went hunting for aerials. Treboux caught a lucky gust and boosted into a forward loop, securing her win.

Jaggi and Alba Orozco sailed a particularly close heat, with both sailors landing clean forward loops and working the waves for all they were worth. When the judges totted up the score sheets Alba Orozco won the vote over Jaggi with her superior wave scores.

The women launched into action when the green flag went up, Iballa went for an enormous forward loop in front of the judges whilst Oude Ophius landed a backloop. The sailors managed to hunt down the few waves in the heat and milk them for all they were worth, whilst Aubet and Geierspichler looked to be under powered.

Newlywed Nayra Alonso (Fanatic / Severne) came into her own in the third heat, taking down Evi Tsape (F2 / North) with her stylish riding utilizing her local knowledge to pick the largest waves. Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North) chose a volume approach in her heat against Amanda Beenen (Dakine). Arutkin charged from wave to wave with forward loops in between, guaranteeing her victory.

The final heat of the first round in the women’s single elimination had to be cancelled due to the retreating wind and waves, and with no signs of the conditions improving the sailors were released at 4pm.

With the rest of the afternoon to spare, the PWA tracked down Pozo’s high flier Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine) to find out what makes him tick, and his windsurfing aspirations for the year.

PWA: Firstly, what do you eat for breakfast that makes you go so high?

'It’s different every day, sometimes bread, meat, nothing special.'

PWA: What’s your favorite music to get psyched up before a windsurfing session?

'I stopped school last year, because it is really hard to balance studying and the PWA tour. The teachers forget about you when you leave school for four months.'

PWA: Do you have a favorite move?

'My favorite moves are the double forward and the pushloop forward. They are really difficult and when you land them, it feels amazing.'

PWA: Do you feel in control throughout your double forward loops?

'I know where I am throughout both rotations of the double forward, I do at least fifteen a day so I am used to it. I try to land them planning, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

PWA: Do you have any tips for learning the double forward?

'I learnt when I was twelve so I have never really thought about it, I try to go really fast and look for a relatively flat wave, and then it is really easy. I try to pull the two rotations separately sheeting in twice with my back hand.'

PWA: What’s your goal for the year?

'I would like to win the events and be the world champion.'

PWA: Where do you hope to train this winter?

'I would like to go to Australia and Maui, and maybe Indonesia for some surfing. It’s good to relax in the winter.'

PWA: What’s your favorite equipment?

'I really like my 4.2m and my 76 liter board; I don’t like really small boards'

PWA: Finally, it has been rumored you landed the triple loop, could you tell us about it?

'I tried it last week, I went around two and a half rotations, maybe a little bit more, and I landed on my back. I’m not going to claim it yet. I think it is possible, the wind was quite light on the day I tried it. It felt good so I will try it again when the conditions are right.'

PWA: Thanks for your time, good luck in the competition.

Big winds are forecast for the fourth day of competition so the skippers’ meeting is planned for 9am tomorrow morning with a first possible start at 9:30am. Be sure to tune into the live ticker for a day of extreme action.